Defender of the Crown - Patching / improving

ricky500 · 09 August 2010, 16:46

(I hope that this is the right section to post this in)

Here's a crazy idea that I want to put out.

As we all know the Amiga version of Defender of the Crown is missing a lot of features / gameplay elements that were added in ports to other machines most notably the Commodore 64. For instance sword fighting on the Amiga version is just mad clicking while other versions have a method to it. Also another example is in the castle siege, in the Amiga version you can only throw rocks while in other versions you can throw Greek fire and Disease.

Anyways, I was thinking, is there enough interest in the Amiga scene for someone or some people to edit / hack the Amiga version of DOTC to add the missing features that are in other versions of the game? I know that this would be a major undertaking. But I was wondering if there is any interest out there in the Amiga scene for such a project? To me, DOTC, is a monumental part of the Amiga's history, and since this is the 25th anniversary of the Amiga, to me it would be fitting for such a project to be done - a Defender of the Crown Re-Loaded as it where.

Of course it might be easier to take all the pictures, music, etc, and start with fresh code, and re-code the whole game maybe adding AGA support and new features as well.

Well, am I just crazy, or is this a possible project that could actually be done?

dirk_the_daring · 09 August 2010, 16:55

Indeed, that project was already done...
Look for Defender of the crown II for the CDTV/CD32, a remake which vastly improves the amiga original.

TCD · 09 August 2010, 16:56

IIRC Defender Of The Crown 2 has (all?) the missing features and there's a WHDLoad install for it. Maybe you want to give that a try and see what's still missing?

Edit : What dirk the daring said

ricky500 · 09 August 2010, 21:46

I have played DOTC 2. DOTC 2 is too easy to beat in my opinion - way easier than the original. You start out with enough money to build a big bad army from the get go and then you can just go trounce everybody, and then just beat them down when they pop back up on the map. Plus it takes about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to play though a whole game and there is no save feature. Plus it does not have all the missing features.

TCD · 09 August 2010, 21:52

So what would your part in the 'patching' be ricky500? Is it just an idea or do you plan to take the major part and only need some additional resources? I guess patching some stuff in the WHDLoad slave *might* be possible, but rewriting/hacking the whole game... don't see that happen.

ricky500 · 10 August 2010, 16:14

Unfortunately, since I'm not much of an Amiga programmer, my part on the project would be limited.

I guess that there isn't much of a Amiga programming scene out there like there is for the Commodore 64?

Slayer · 12 August 2010, 05:59

LOL

When inspiration fails set up a bounty and donate heavily!

When I discovered Warlords II wasn't coming out for the Amiga I called the actual developers/coders of the game and enquired. The coder himself said give me $50,000 and I'll do an Amiga version...

I installed Fusion on my PPC and got hold of the Mac version of Warlords II... I must say however that as far as I'm concerned they completely wrecked Warlords...

All the original needed was a vastly increased AI and a more sensible approach to bonuses or penalties in regards to the presence of individual army groups or terrain...

Some times games do not require much but more fine tuning... A Map Editor could have been good also...

But yikes, I'm running off down the road with my own story than yours, sorry about that ;-)

ricky500 · 12 August 2010, 19:39

I posted about this on Lemon Amiga too - http://www.lemonamiga.com/forum/view...er=asc&start=0

There is interest in making an improved DOTC for the Amiga. Mostly we need a good graphics artist(s) for the project - any volunteers?

skan · 12 August 2010, 20:06

Just find a coder, let him hack all the missing features you long for into the original game and you're done. Graphics were cool enough IIRC.

TCD · 12 August 2010, 20:32

Just to make it clear : How big is the 'gap' between DotC2 and the C64 version? I mean which features are missing? The WHDLoad slave is file based, so replacing the graphics and sound/music should be easy enough.

lilalurl · 12 August 2010, 20:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCyberDruid

Just to make it clear : How big is the 'gap' between DotC2 and the C64 version? I mean which features are missing? The WHDLoad slave is file based, so replacing the graphics and sound/music should be easy enough.

I believe that what TCD said makes more "realistic" sense than trying to implement a lot of features in DOTC1.

Things like the starting money in DOTC2, enemy stats etc... should be far easier to find and modify.

Unless of course there is a lot of documentation on DOTC1, its file structure, the compression used for graphics etc....

PS: I always wished for a character with a lightsaber to win all jousting events. Can this be included in the wishlist?

Retro1234 · 12 August 2010, 23:15

DOTC2 is like a enhanced version of DOTC but theres a bug with DOTC2 that I dont think even the WHDload install fixes when you go riading if it the CD-Audio isnt there it doesnt work

Of course works fine from CD with the Audio tracks

TCD · 12 August 2010, 23:20

Quite sure that could (and should

) be fixed in the WHDLoad slave? Is there a bug report on Mantis about this already?

Retro1234 · 12 August 2010, 23:26

Theres a few reports on mantis mainly to do with the controlls-Ive not had this problem
theres is one to do with the problem I mentioned

You can still play without raiding but its a bit crappy

http://mantis.whdload.de/view.php?id=504

TCD · 12 August 2010, 23:31

Hmm, seems like JOTD overlooked that bit. Maybe you should make a new report just with that problem?

tomcat666 · 13 August 2010, 07:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCyberDruid

Just to make it clear : How big is the 'gap' between DotC2 and the C64 version? I mean which features are missing? The WHDLoad slave is file based, so replacing the graphics and sound/music should be easy enough.

Actually the Atari ST has all the missing features + some more. There might not be as many colours on the pictures as in the Amiga version but you will be better off getting stuff from that version !

TCD · 13 August 2010, 09:40

Can someone actually name which features are missing in DOTC2 in comparison to the ST and/or C64 version? Just so that we get an idea how much 'fixing' it would need.

daxb · 13 August 2010, 10:46

I`m the man behind bugreport http://mantis.whdload.de/view.php?id=1633

Can someone confirm this problem?

Retro1234 · 13 August 2010, 12:30

You can see the differences here

Atari ST - [ Show youtube player ]

Amiga - [ Show youtube player ]

The Amiga Version still seems better to me but strange they left some features out? as the Amiga version was favored.
I like the hitting fire to win raiding -You can still loose

Unless these features are in the game somewhere - Seems like more then just changing some graphics and the ST version would probably have to be dissabled.

Help! -

Im still unsure of where to aim of the Amiga version jousting -You can see in the Amiga longplay they manged.

Quote:

Originally Posted by daxb

I`m the man behind bugreport http://mantis.whdload.de/view.php?id=1633

Can someone confirm this problem?

ill try and test it -can you confirm the raiding problem?

Retro1234 · 13 August 2010, 16:36

DOTC ST version running under 68000 Medusa

No sound a few corrupt graphics, have to have a better look

09 August 2010, 16:46	#1
ricky500 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New Hampshire, USA Age: 38 Posts: 139	Defender of the Crown - Patching / improving (I hope that this is the right section to post this in) Here's a crazy idea that I want to put out. As we all know the Amiga version of Defender of the Crown is missing a lot of features / gameplay elements that were added in ports to other machines most notably the Commodore 64. For instance sword fighting on the Amiga version is just mad clicking while other versions have a method to it. Also another example is in the castle siege, in the Amiga version you can only throw rocks while in other versions you can throw Greek fire and Disease. Anyways, I was thinking, is there enough interest in the Amiga scene for someone or some people to edit / hack the Amiga version of DOTC to add the missing features that are in other versions of the game? I know that this would be a major undertaking. But I was wondering if there is any interest out there in the Amiga scene for such a project? To me, DOTC, is a monumental part of the Amiga's history, and since this is the 25th anniversary of the Amiga, to me it would be fitting for such a project to be done - a Defender of the Crown Re-Loaded as it where. Of course it might be easier to take all the pictures, music, etc, and start with fresh code, and re-code the whole game maybe adding AGA support and new features as well. Well, am I just crazy, or is this a possible project that could actually be done?

13 August 2010, 16:36	#20
Retro1234 Phone Homer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: 5150 Posts: 5,786	DOTC ST version running under 68000 Medusa No sound a few corrupt graphics, have to have a better look Attached Thumbnails

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09 August 2010, 16:55	#2
dirk_the_daring Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Alicante / Spain Posts: 150	Indeed, that project was already done... Look for Defender of the crown II for the CDTV/CD32, a remake which vastly improves the amiga original.

09 August 2010, 16:56	#3
TCD HOL/FTP busy bee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 46 Posts: 31,677	IIRC Defender Of The Crown 2 has (all?) the missing features and there's a WHDLoad install for it. Maybe you want to give that a try and see what's still missing? Edit : What dirk the daring said

09 August 2010, 21:46	#4
ricky500 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New Hampshire, USA Age: 38 Posts: 139	I have played DOTC 2. DOTC 2 is too easy to beat in my opinion - way easier than the original. You start out with enough money to build a big bad army from the get go and then you can just go trounce everybody, and then just beat them down when they pop back up on the map. Plus it takes about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to play though a whole game and there is no save feature. Plus it does not have all the missing features.

09 August 2010, 21:52	#5
TCD HOL/FTP busy bee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 46 Posts: 31,677	So what would your part in the 'patching' be ricky500? Is it just an idea or do you plan to take the major part and only need some additional resources? I guess patching some stuff in the WHDLoad slave might be possible, but rewriting/hacking the whole game... don't see that happen.

10 August 2010, 16:14	#6
ricky500 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New Hampshire, USA Age: 38 Posts: 139	Unfortunately, since I'm not much of an Amiga programmer, my part on the project would be limited. I guess that there isn't much of a Amiga programming scene out there like there is for the Commodore 64?

12 August 2010, 05:59	#7
Slayer Amiga Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: New Zealand Age: 56 Posts: 695	LOL When inspiration fails set up a bounty and donate heavily! When I discovered Warlords II wasn't coming out for the Amiga I called the actual developers/coders of the game and enquired. The coder himself said give me $50,000 and I'll do an Amiga version... I installed Fusion on my PPC and got hold of the Mac version of Warlords II... I must say however that as far as I'm concerned they completely wrecked Warlords... All the original needed was a vastly increased AI and a more sensible approach to bonuses or penalties in regards to the presence of individual army groups or terrain... Some times games do not require much but more fine tuning... A Map Editor could have been good also... But yikes, I'm running off down the road with my own story than yours, sorry about that ;-)

12 August 2010, 19:39	#8
ricky500 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New Hampshire, USA Age: 38 Posts: 139	I posted about this on Lemon Amiga too - http://www.lemonamiga.com/forum/view...er=asc&start=0 There is interest in making an improved DOTC for the Amiga. Mostly we need a good graphics artist(s) for the project - any volunteers?

12 August 2010, 20:06	#9
skan Dream Merchant Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Dreamlands Posts: 530	Just find a coder, let him hack all the missing features you long for into the original game and you're done. Graphics were cool enough IIRC.

12 August 2010, 20:32	#10
TCD HOL/FTP busy bee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 46 Posts: 31,677	Just to make it clear : How big is the 'gap' between DotC2 and the C64 version? I mean which features are missing? The WHDLoad slave is file based, so replacing the graphics and sound/music should be easy enough.

12 August 2010, 23:15	#12
Retro1234 Phone Homer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: 5150 Posts: 5,786	DOTC2 is like a enhanced version of DOTC but theres a bug with DOTC2 that I dont think even the WHDload install fixes when you go riading if it the CD-Audio isnt there it doesnt work Of course works fine from CD with the Audio tracks

12 August 2010, 23:20	#13
TCD HOL/FTP busy bee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 46 Posts: 31,677	Quite sure that could (and should ) be fixed in the WHDLoad slave? Is there a bug report on Mantis about this already?

12 August 2010, 23:26	#14
Retro1234 Phone Homer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: 5150 Posts: 5,786	Theres a few reports on mantis mainly to do with the controlls-Ive not had this problem theres is one to do with the problem I mentioned You can still play without raiding but its a bit crappy http://mantis.whdload.de/view.php?id=504

12 August 2010, 23:31	#15
TCD HOL/FTP busy bee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 46 Posts: 31,677	Hmm, seems like JOTD overlooked that bit. Maybe you should make a new report just with that problem?

13 August 2010, 09:40	#17
TCD HOL/FTP busy bee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 46 Posts: 31,677	Can someone actually name which features are missing in DOTC2 in comparison to the ST and/or C64 version? Just so that we get an idea how much 'fixing' it would need.

13 August 2010, 10:46	#18
daxb Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 3,304	I`m the man behind bugreport http://mantis.whdload.de/view.php?id=1633 Can someone confirm this problem?

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